AOD-9604

What people use it for

• Fat loss (popular use)
• Joint and cartilage repair (limited research)

What AOD-9604 does in the body

Based on the C-terminal end of growth hormone, the region thought to drive fat breakdown (lipolysis). It was designed to keep this effect without growth hormone's impact on blood sugar or IGF-1.

Strength of evidence

Weak: human trials did not show meaningful weight loss versus placebo, and development as an obesity drug was stopped.

Look up the evidence

• Reviews on PubMed: Summaries of the published research
• Clinical trials on PubMed: Published studies in people
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Registered trials, past and ongoing

Live searches of official databases. New to the terms? See the glossary.

Reported side effects & risks

• Injection-site reactions
• Headache
• Limited long-term human safety data

Who should avoid it or take extra care

• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Under 18

Not a complete list. Check with a doctor or pharmacist about your own health and medicines.

Regulatory status

Not approved as a drug in the US.

How it's taken

Route: Injection under the skin (popular use)

How long it lasts (half-life): Short; not well established

Storage

Unreconstituted (powder) vials are usually kept refrigerated or frozen and away from light. Once mixed with bacteriostatic water, keep refrigerated and do not freeze; follow the supplier's stated beyond-use date.

Mixing guides

How much water to add and what each syringe mark holds, worked out for your own dose:

• 2 mg vial
• 5 mg vial